Auto Repair in Albany, CA

  Countless people plan for traveling throughout the summer, but planning a successful road trip is more difficult than it sounds. Here are seven tips to help your adventure go off without a hitch. 1. Get Your Vehicle Ready Before you even think of getting started on an extended driving trip, you’ll need to take care of any pending maintenance on your vehicle and make sure it’s ready to handle long miles on the road. Schedule an oil change, ensure your tires are roadworthy, and get all your fluids topped off before your departure. If you’ve just purchased a used vehicle, ensure you’re familiar with the vehicle’s history report and what that may mean for any necessary maintenance prior to setting out for the trip. 2. Prepare for Roadside Emergencies Prepare an emergency kit stocked with everythi ... read more

Frequently Asked Questions   Below we’ve compiled your questions. These are the most commonly asked questions, and we believe the best way to retain our customers is through gaining your trust by giving the most in-depth information available possible! How do you keep from getting ripped off? Great Question! To better answer this question we’ve partnered with Las Mecánicas to bring you a FREE auto care workshop that aims at saving you money through education. More on that HERE. Do you ever tell customers they don’t need repairs? Yes! This is what differentiates us from dealerships. We will give a complete list of everything that we see during our inspection, and give a prioritized time line of what needs to be done tailored to the customer’s driving habits. Therefore all of our oil services come with a compr ... read more

  Whether you’ve purchased a new car, or the car is just new to you. Congratulations! There’s nothing like getting a new set of wheels. You’ll want to keep your car looking and running good for years to come, and the best way to do that is through good old fashioned upkeep. Here are a few great tips to use along the way. Check Your Oil Newer car technology changes the math on how often you should get oil changes. The standard for years was every 3,000 miles, but these days it’s more like every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. If you take your car to a shop, the mechanics can give you the best timeline based on your car’s age and type. In the meantime, make a point to check your oil regularly to see if it’s low or dirty. Oil is the lifeblood of your car. If you neglect to monitor levels and forgo regular changes, your engine can seize and essentially turn the car into a giant paperweight. Practice Good Tire Hygi ... read more

Winterizing Guide for Californians Do I really need to winterize my car, even though it doesn’t snow here? The short answer is yes! Cold temperatures make it more difficult for an engine to work properly. Rain, especially in times of drought, limit traction grip for your tires. When it only rains sporadically this makes the roads even more slick because there is more oil and other foreign debris that don’t mix well with water. If there’s heavier rains, this too can be a hazard as it tends to increase the amount of, and the size of, potholes. Vehicles respond differently to the weather just like us, so they need special maintenance at the change of all major seasons. Here are some quick tips on how you can be better prepared for the season change: 1. Check Your Tire Pressure! Simple, right? Many people know properly inflated tires can save you gas money. What you may not know is that the best way to maintain functionality of the tires for the long ... read more

  Welcome Home Cat, We Missed You! For those of you that don’t know, Cat, our esteemed Service Advisor, or prodigal daughter if you will, has returned! Cat worked here for 5 years, and then left us for 5 years. But now she has come to her senses and is back in the office of Dana Meyer Auto Care! Where the heck have you been for the last 5 years? “I’ve been hiding in a dealership parts department. A few Bay Area Volkswagon/Audi dealerships.” We know Cat has had a long term love affair with all things Volkswagon. When she was recruited to help open a new location of a VW service shop we we’re happy for her, but now we are even more excited that she chose to come back to a more sane work environment. Are you glad to be back? “Yes, of course!” What can DMAC customers expect to see change now that you’re the full time service advisor? “What I learned in my ... read more